A major theme in Harlots is how violence abuse is perpetuated throughout generations, and how the various women in the show have coped with their trauma. Margaret's mother was so unfeeling towards her daughter, she sold her off to Quigley, an abusive brothel madam. Quigley herself was clearly abused, but she internalized the values of her abusers in order to enrich herself. Margaret may have broken this cycle in some respects, but she still came to believe that prostitution was the best way for her own daughters to come out on top in a world which believes in depriving women of all agency and control in their lives.